Digital Cockpit

1. A method for processing business metrics information in a system including a server, and at least one user device and a database communicatively coupled to the server, said method comprising: storing pre-defined users based on a business metric at the database, wherein the business metric is one of a customer-centric metric, a core business metric, and a business function metric, the customer-centric metric including one of customer savings, on-time deliveries, and quality; the core business metric including one of total revenue, variable costs, base costs, cash flow, and net income; and the business metric is relevant to at least one of sales, marketing, manufacturing, engineering, finance, environmental health and safety, and legal; receiving operating and financial data for a business; processing the operating and financial data to generate business metrics; comparing the business metrics to pre-defined parameters; notifying the pre-defined users when a pre-determined threshold regarding a respective business metric is satisfied; and displaying a status of the business metrics using a plurality of gauges for visually indicating a status of a respective business metric.

2. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein displaying the business metrics further comprises displaying at least one gauge which visually indicates the position of a switch between an “ON” position and an “OFF” position.

3. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising displaying business data associated with each business metric.

4. A method in accordance with claim 3 wherein displaying business data associated with each business metric further comprises linking business data used in determining a status of each respective metric to each business metric.

5. A method in accordance with claim 3 wherein displaying business data associated with each business metric further comprises linking business data to each respective visual display.

6. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein notifying users further comprises defining the pre-determined thresholds that trigger the notifications.

7. A method in accordance with claim 1 wherein notifying users further comprises defining which users receive the notifications when a predetermined threshold is satisfied.

8. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising coupling a message center to the server.

9. A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein coupling a message center further comprises receiving user inquiries regarding the business metric associated with the message center.

10. A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein coupling a message center further comprises receiving user input regarding the business metric associated with the message center.

11. A method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising restricting access to the server system.